Ashbourne racing driver Sam Randon is hoping to make the step up to driving a ferocious 4.7-litre Maserati in next year’s British GT Championship.

Randon tested the big beast at Donington Park last week and has impressed the new team looking to enter the championship – they are looking for an up-and-coming young driver to pair with a more experienced racer.

Randon, 22, was only able to race a couple of weekends in last year’s Renault UK Clio Cup, due to lack of funding, although he impressed sponsors and other observers in those, qualifying on the front row and finishing his shortened season with two top-10 finishes.

Finding funding for next year will still be an issue but, big as the Maserati is, the season will potentially cost less, as he is sharing it with another driver.

It will still cost thousands but Randon’s father, Neil, said: “While we can get away with a limited programme for one year, if his racing career is to progress, we need to make sure next season is a full campaign.

“Following his success in those two race weekends and the promise he showed, Sam was invited to test for an exciting new British GT race team.

“British GT has become one of the world’s leading sports car championships, featuring a line-up of exotic machines from such as Ferrari, Aston Martin, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche and McLaren.

“They race at circuits all around the UK and include one International round at the Spa Francorchamps formula one circuit in Belgium.”

GT racing is a team sport and Randon would share the driving with the other racer in endurance races of between one and two hours.

Sam Randon at the wheel of the Maserati at Donington. (Image: Averill Photography)

“We were originally meant to test the car earlier in the year but Sam fractured his hand shortly before the test and we had to wait until he was strong enough,” said Neil Randon.

“Sam tested his strength in a simulator at Silverstone as a final check. At last we had some luck, in a week of really bad weather we struck lucky and had glorious sunshine at Donington.

“This meant we could get out on slicks and really get a feel for the car. It’s a beast. There’s no other way to describe it,” said Sam Randon.

“There are no driver aids such as traction control or even ABS brakes, this is just raw power. It’s just an amazing car to drive and makes so much noise.

“It’s a big car, too and rear wheel drive, of course. I felt like a novice all over again. It’s a very different driving technique but the simulator session helped this week.”

Randon impressed the team but, as always, fundraising is the rub.

“This is not a done deal, far from it,” added his father. “We still have to generate a significant race budget to get him out there. Sam is looking for local business leaders to get involved. We already get fantastic support from the business community at Marketing Derby.

“It’s an emotional roller coaster and highly addictive. Our sponsors tend to get very involved in the highs and lows of a season.”

You can watch a video of the test day on Facebook, @SamRandonRacing, and email Randon at SamRandonRacing@yahoo.co.uk.